8 things Brits do that baffle Americans

In the United Kingdom, kettles are a kitchen staple, commonly used for everything from making tea to preparing meals. They’re favored for their speed and efficiency when it comes to boiling water. In contrast, many people in the United States tend to heat water in the microwave instead.

Beans on toast has become a beloved comfort food in United Kingdom cuisine. It’s often served as part of a full English breakfast, though many also enjoy it as a simple meal on its own. Interestingly, while canned baked beans originated in the United States, Americans typically view them as a side dish rather than a breakfast staple.

In the United Kingdom, many people still prefer to air-dry their clothes by hanging them outside on a washing line or indoors on a drying rack – despite the famously rainy weather. While some households do own tumble dryers, air-drying is often seen as a more cost-effective option.

While many homes in the United States feature dedicated laundry rooms, it’s far more common in the United Kingdom for washing machines to be installed in the kitchen, often beside the oven or countertops. With space limited in many British city homes, this setup is considered a more practical and plumbing-friendly solution.

A duvet is a thick, padded blanket commonly used in the United Kingdom to keep beds warm and comfortable. In the United States, however, people are more likely to layer multiple blankets and sheets instead of using a single duvet.

Many people in the United Kingdom often keep small windows open even during winter to let in fresh air, and in summer it’s common for back doors to be left open as well. This practice is less common in the United States, likely because air conditioning is far more widely used.

In the United Kingdom, there are no formal jaywalking laws. Instead, the Highway Code relies on pedestrians using their own judgement to decide when it is safe to cross the road. In contrast, in the United States, pedestrians can face fines for crossing the road in prohibited or unsafe ways.

In the United Kingdom, the price displayed on items in shops already includes tax, so what you see is what you pay. In contrast, in the United States, sales tax is typically added at the checkout, meaning the final cost is only calculated at the till.